Kansas City Chiefs defensive end BJ Thompson’s agent, Christ Turnage, provided an update on his condition after suffering a cardiac arrest at a team meeting on Thursday.
The Chiefs had to postpone OTA practice when Thompson had a seizure in a special teams meeting and went into cardiac arrest.
After visiting his client, Turnage reported that Thompson is unconscious but in stable condition.
‘BJ is still unconscious at this point, but he’s stable and vitals are good,’ Turnage said, per Tom Pelissero. ‘His family asks for your continued prayers.’
Pelissero also reported the news of Thompson’s seizure on Thursday morning.
BJ Thompson had a seizure in a special teams meeting and went into cardiac arrest Thursday
‘The Chiefs canceled all team activities today after a backup defensive lineman had a seizure in a special teams meeting and went into cardiac arrest, per sources,’ Pelissero wrote on X.
‘The team’s medical staff worked quickly, an ambulance was called and the player is currently in stable condition.’
With Thompson in stable condition, the Chiefs pushed through with a charity softball event on Thursday evening.
Justin Reid and Trey Smith hosted the second annual Kansas City charity softball game, formerly organized by Marquez Valdes-Scantling – who was traded to the Buffalo Bills this offseason.
While head coach Andy Reid has yet to speak to the media about the situation, he is reportedly expected to address it on Friday. However, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke about his player’s condition during Thursday night’s event.
‘Let me say this before I say anything, I’m thinking about BJ right now,’ Spagnuolo volunteered before taking questions from reporters, via Fox4KC.
The 25-year-old Thompson has played once for the Chiefs since being drafted in 2023
Last week, Thompson was at the White House, where the Chiefs celebrated Super Bowl victory
Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo spoke out on his condition
‘It was scary. I think the guys were a little bit scared, I know I was. But a lot of praying and [head athletic trainer] Rick [Burkholder] and his staff did a terrific job.’
He added that he wasn’t in the room when it happened but praised the staffers who stepped in to help.
‘But everybody you know, to a man to a person to a woman, because we have some female trainers, they were terrific, they did a great job. So we’ll keep our fingers crossed. I’ll let Andy handle the rest of that.’
Thompson was a fifth-round draft pick by the Chiefs in 2023 from Stephen F. Austin University in Texas. He has played once for the team, against the Chargers in January – the final game of the regular season.
Thompson was part of the Chiefs team that visited the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl title with President Joe Biden last week. He shared several pictures from the visit to his Instagram account and joked in the caption that the trip ‘got me feeling like the president.’
Chiefs stars Justin Reid and Trey Smith went ahead with their charity softball event Thursday
Thompson pictured celebrating in Las Vegas when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl this year
Before the celebrity Softball game .. the Chiefs Team Chaplain held a moment of prayer for BJ Thompson, who is in stable condition. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/x9Tmc2vc8y
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) June 7, 2024
Speaking to media after being picked by the Chiefs last May, the Arkansas native said: ‘I just want to put on for my town and show them that anything is possible, no matter where you come from. Hopefully, I am accomplishing that.
‘Me and my friends, we all had dreams and goals of NFL, NBA but along the lines, dreams kind of die off and people get other plans.
‘For me, it never really did. I always had in the back of my head I was going to play professional sports and I was blessed enough to make it happen.’
